General overview

Representatives

Members in the House are called representatives. Each state receives representation in the House in proportion to the size of its population, but is entitled to at least one Representative. There are currently 435 representatives, a number fixed by law since 1911. The most populous state, California, currently has 53 representatives. There are seven states with only one representative: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming.[1]

Each representative serves for a two-year term. There are no term limits.

Qualifications

According to the U.S. Constitution, Representatives must meet the following requirements: [2]

At least 25 years old

A U.S. citizen for at least seven years

A resident of the state he or she represents

Additionally, all 50 states maintain requirements related to running for election. These filing requirements vary, and can include:

A filing fee

A petition with a minimum number of valid signatures

“

Section 2:Clause 1 : The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.Clause 2 : No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.Clause 3 : Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.Clause 4: When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.Clause 5: The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.[3]

Delegates and the Resident Commissioner

Besides the representative from each state, there are a small number of Delegates and a Resident Commission.

Delegates are representatives from Washington D.C., as well as American Samoa, Guam, The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. and the Virgin Islands. Delegates are able to perform many of the functions of a full representative, such as serve on committees. However, they are not able to vote during business as the Committee as the Whole or on final passage of legislation. Delegates serve two year terms.

The Resident Commissioner functions are similar to the delegates, but the title is specifically for a representative from Puerto Rico. The Resident Commissioner serves a four year term. The Philippines also had a Resident Commissioner before its independence from the U.S. in 1946.[4]

Leaders

There are several important leadership position in the House of Representatives:

Speaker of the House: The Speaker is the presiding officer elected by the members of the house. The Speaker performs a number of functions, including: Administering the Oath of Office to House members, chairing and nominating chairs or certain committees, and appointing select members of various committees and house staff.

Majority and Minority Leaders: The party with more the most members elects the Majority Leader and other party elects a Minority Leader. The Majority Leader customarily schedules legislative business on the House Floor, while the Minority Leader Minority Leader serves as a spokesperson for the minority party. The two leaders are selected at their respective the party conference or caucus.

Majority and Minority Whips: Each party also elects a Whip, who act as middlemen for communication between party leaders and normal members. There parties will also often create other similar positions to help with various communication duties.[4]

House officers

There are five main house officer positions:

The Clerk of the House: The clerk is essentially the House record keeper.

The Sergeant at Arms: The Sergeant is the the chief law enforcement officer for the House, and is responsible for maintaining security and order in the House Chamber, the House wing of the U.S. Capitol, and House office buildings.

The Chief Administrative Officer: The Chief Administrative Officer is responsible for the administrative functions of the House, such as operating budget, procurement, payroll, and information technology

The Chaplain: The Chaplin customarily opens each meeting of Congress with a formal prayer. They also provide spiritual services and counseling to house members, family, and staff.[4]

Committees

There are 20 regular standing committees, and one permanent select committee the U.S. House has created. There are also several joint committees with the U.S. Senate. The committees are permanent panels governed by House chamber rules, with responsibility to consider bills and issues and to have general oversight relating to their area of jurisdiction.[5][6][1]